Indonesia is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire and faces many natural threats including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, flooding, and droughts. The country has experienced an average of 290 significant natural disasters annually over the last 30 years.3 This includes the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami which killed approximately 220,000 people across four countries, 167,000 in Indonesia alone, and cost an estimated $10 billion in damages.4

Seven decades ago, the world was recovering from a devastating world war. For millions of child survivors of that war, peace still encompassed a landscape of significant challenges and damaged futures. UNICEF was created to help those children – no matter who they were, no matter where they were from. The only thing that mattered for the nascent organization was achieving results for children in need.

As we at Lutheran World Relief anticipate the tremendous humanitarian challenges we might face in the coming year, a quote from Desmond Tutu comes to mind: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”

This report is produced by OCHA Haiti in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued by OCHA Haiti. It covers the period from 03 to 05 Oct 2016. The next report will be issued on 06 Oct.

Highlights

According to the information gathered by OCHA/UNDAC during an aerial observation mission, hurricane Matthew has severely affected the south part of Haiti, especially the departments of Grand Anse and South, where the wind produced severe damages. The team did not observe major landslides or floods at this time.

This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian partners and with inputs from official institutions. It covers the period from 4 to 5 October 2016 at 17:00 hours. The next report will be published on 6 October 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Initial assessments are taking place today in Haiti over the affected areas in south-west, north-west and central departments.

• Cuba’s preparedness measures included the evacuation of over 1 million people. Homes, livelihoods and infrastructure have already been damaged.

BALTIMORE, Dec. 1, 2015—Lutheran World Relief, an international NGO working in 35 countries to develop sustainable solutions to poverty and food insecurity, marked #GivingTuesday by releasing its 2016 Early Warning Forecast of regions it is monitoring for potential humanitarian crises over the coming year.

Abnormal rainfall patterns during 2014/2015 have contributed to a spike in food insecurity, which is currently affecting at least 27.4 m people regionally (and this excludes Angola, which has yet to publish official figures; and Madagascar, which did not present to SADC, but where 1.9 m people are food insecure, of which 460,000 people are severely so). In Malawi and Zimbabwe, 2.8 m and 1.5 m people are food insecure respectively.

New IFRC Report calls for greater recognition and support for local humanitarian actors

Local actors are often the most effective in conducting humanitarian operations. However, despite their critical role, they struggle to attract the funding and support they need.

The 2015 World Disasters Report – launched today by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) – examines the complexities and challenges local actors face in scaling-up and sustaining their humanitarian response.

The Council of Ministers declared an institutional red alert on 12 January 2015 after a period of heavy rainfall caused severe flooding across central and northern Mozambique. According to the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) 373,026 people were affected in Zambézia, Nampula, Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Manica provinces. 14,361 houses were partially damaged, while 21,780 were completely destroyed. Furthermore, the floods caused extensive damage to public buildings and infrastructure, loss of crops and livestock.